Aircraft signal



May 20, 1930. P- BUCKLEY ET AL 1,758,927

' AIRCRAFT SIGNAL Filed March 16, 1929 A tlqrne y Patented May 20, 1930 UNlTED STATES" PATENT OFFICE JOHN P. BUCKLEY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND ARTHUR E. I NES BI'IT, OF CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND meme: SIGNAL Application filed March 16,1929. Serial no. 847,570.

This invention relates to signals and more particularly to an aircraft signal by means of which an aviator may locate a landing field and safely land. y

One object of the invention is to provide a signal which, when in operation, will project a beam of sound waves u wardly at an incline so that. when an aircra t enters the zone of signals the aviator may direct the craft downwardly along the beam at a normal'ghding angle and make his landing in the usual manner. I 1

Another object of the invention is to form a beam of sound waves having a core surrounded by a jacket, the sound waves of the jacket being dlstinct from those of the core, and

preferably of a higher pitch, so that an aviator when descen downwardlyto the ground and be warned by a change in. the pitch of signals received if he leaves the core while liding downwardly.

Another object of the invention is to cause the sound emitting elements for the jacket to 25 move about the sound emitting means for the core when the signal is in operation.

Another ob'ect of the invention is to allow the signal to' e adjusted and cause the beam of sound waves to be directed upwardly in the direction towards which wind is blowing and thereby cause an aircraft to travel against the wind when gliding downwardly along the beam to a landing.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved signal, a

Fig. 2 is a front view of the turntable and horns carried thereby,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the beam of sound waves projected upwardly by the si al, and

ig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of signal.

This improved aircraft signal is preferably located in a pit P formed in the ground which may be guarded by a grating G although'it may be located at other places if found practical and includes a base 1 having front and rear set screws or equivalent supporting feet 2 which bears upon a foundation 3 and are ing may follow the corev verticallyi'adjlistable so that the angle of the base may be controlled. Upon the base is supported a standard 4 having a depending stem 5 rotatably received in a socket formed in the base so that the standard may be rotated when necessary. A. large gear 6 is secured upon the base beneath the standard and ,formedwith a center opening through which the stem extends. The standard carries a motor 7 which extends from on'e'side with its shaft 8 projecting from its upper and lower ends and at its upper end the standard carries a bearing 9 through which extends a shaft 10 with its end portions projecting forwardly and rearwardly therefrom and carrying an adjustable weight 11 upon its rear portion. I

A carrier or turntable 12 having a center sleeve or hub 13 fits loosely upon the forward portion of the shaft 10 and about the hub is a worm gear 14 meshing with a worm 15 upon the upper end of the motor shaft so that,

when the motor is energized, the carrier will be rotated and the sound producing elements 16 caused to move about the center sound producing element 17. Since the horn of the sound producer 17 projects forwardly beyond the horns of the sound producers 16, the sound waves emitted by the sound producers 16 will be prevented from intermingling with the sound waves of the central sound producer and likelihood of intermingling is also reduced by the fact that the sound producers 16 move in a circular path having, the sound producer 17 at its axis. Therefore, a beam B of sound waves projected upwardly from the signal will have a core B of sound waves from the soundproducer 17 enveloped in a jacket B" of sound waves from the sound producers 16. By properly regulating the cycle of the sound waves the jacket can be caused to have a pitch very distinct from and preferably higher than the core.- Therefore, an aviator who has encountered the beam and is glidin downwardly along its core to a landing will be warned by a pronounced change in the pitch of signals received if he moves out of his proper position within the core into the jacket and can guide his craft back into its proper course. Since the bearing 9 is disposed at an incline, the beam of sound waves will be projected diagonally upwards but it is sometimes desirable to adjust this angle when installing the signal and this can be accomplished by adjusting the set screws 2.

When an aviator lands, he always does so against the wind and as he is to. follow the beam of sound waves downwardly to the ground, the beam must be projected in the direction wind is blowing. Therefore, the standard must be turned about its axis and in order to do so, there has been provided a gear 18 which is loose upon the lower end of the motor shaft and meshes with the teeth of the gear 6'. The gearor pinion 18 is provided with an extended hub toothed to form a clutch 19 to be engaged by a companion clutch 20 which slides upon the motor shaft and is held against rotation thereon. A solenoid 21 is carried by the motor and its core 22 carries a fork 23 which engages the clutch .20 and is normally drawn upwardly by the spring 24 so that the clutches will be normally separated and thereby allow the motor to operate without turning the standard. When, however, the solenoid is energized and its core drawn downwardly the clutch 20 will engage the clutch 19 and rotate the gear 18 so that it moves around the gear 6 and causes the standard to turn until the beam of sound waves is projected in the desired direction. At this time the solenoid will be deenergized and rotation of the standard will be stopped by the spring drawing the fork 23 and clutch 20 upwardly.

Power for the motor 7, solenoid 21 and sound producers is obtained from a suitable source of supply by wires 25 and 26 and these wires are secured to the movable arm 27 of a double pole switch having contacts 29 and 30 to which wires 31 are connected. The wires 31 are connected with brushes 31 bearing upon slip rings 32 disposed about the standard 4 and wires 33 lead from these rings to the motor. It will be readily understood that by throwing the switch the polarity of the motor can be controlled and the direction in which its'shaft rotates regulated. Therefore, the standard can be caused to rotate in either direction as necessary. A resistance-34 controlled by a switch 34' may be cut into the motor circuit in orderto reduce the s eed of the motor while turning the standar Wires 35 controlled by a switch 36 lead from the power wires and are .connected with brushes 35 bearing against a second pair of slip rings 37 fitted about the standard and from these rings extend wires 38 which lead to the solenoid. By this arrangement energization of the solenoid may be controlled independent of the motor while allowing the motor to be used both to rotate the carrier 12 and turn the standard.

The noise producers also receive their energy from th power wires 25 and 26 and in order to do so there has been provided wires 39 which lead from the wires 33. These wires are connected with brushes 40 hearing against slip rings 41 fitted about the hub or sleeve 13 of the carrier and from the rings 41 extend wires 42 connected with-the sound producers, as shown in Figure 2, so that they will be energized when the switch 27 is closed. By this arrangement the sound producers may be simultaneously energized and a beam of sound waves directed upwardly having a core surrounded by a jacket, the pitch of which is appreciably distinct from and prcferably higher than the core. The fact that the table or carrier 12 rotates causes the sound waves from the sound producers 16 to move upwardly in a whirling path about the core and this assists in preventing the sound .waves of the jacket and core intermingling.

In Figure 4, there has been shown a modified construction. In this form of the invention, the brushes 40 bear against rings 43, one of which is provided'with spaced contacts and the wires 39 are provided with branch wires 44 connected with brushes 45 which bear against rings 46, one of which is also provided with spaced contacts. Wires 47 lead from the rings43 to the sound producers l6 and other wires 48 lead from the rings 46 to the central sound producer 17 and by having the contacts of the ring 43 spaced ahead of the ring 56, the sound producer 17 and group of sound producers 16 will be caused to be alternately energized. This will allow a flying field at which the signal is located to be identified by the character of the signals.

From the above description, the construction and operation of the signal will be readily understood. An aviator flying towards a field encounters the beam of sound waves and after locating the core follows it downwardly at a natural gliding angle until he can see the ground and make his landing. Any suitable receiving means can be provided upon the aircraft which will be acted upon by the sound waves of the beam such as vibrating reeds as visual means and telephone receivers as audible means.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. Aircraft signaling means comprising means for projecting a beam of sound waves upwardly, and other means for projecting sound waves upwardly in enveloping relation to the said beam, the sound waves of the j acket being distinct from the sound waves of the beam.

2. Aircraft signaling means comprising means for projecting upwardly at an incline a beam of sound waves and consisting of meansfor forming a core of sound wavcs of a determined pitch, and other means for forming a jacket of sound waves enveloping the core and of a tone distinct from the pitch of the waves of the core.

3. Aircraft signaling means comprising means for projecting upwardly a beam of sound waves and consisting of means for forming a core and other means for forming a jacket of sound waves enveloping the core,

. the sound waves of the acket moving circumturntable.

ferentially about the core and having a pitch distinct from the waves of the core.

4. Aircraft signaling means comprisin means for projecting upwardly a beam 0 sound waves and consisting of means for forming a core and other means for forming a jacket of sound waves enveloping the core, the sound waves of the acket moving circumferentially about the core and having a pitch distinct from the waves of the core, and means for controlling-the compass direction in which the beam is projected. r

5. Aircraft signaling means comprising a turntable rotatably mounted, a directional sound producer disposed centrally of said turntable and adapted to project sound waves upwardly, other directional sound producers carried .by said turntable about the central sound producer and adapted to project sound waves upwardly and together with the sound waves of the central sound producer form a beam having a core and a jacket enveloping the core, and means for rotating said 6. Aircraft signaling means comprising a turntable, a directional sound producer disposed centrally of the turntable and other directional sound producers carried by the turntable about -the central roducer, orns for said sound producers, t e horn of the central producers being of greater length than the others, and means for rotating said turntable.

7. Aircraft/signaling means comprising a turntable, a directional sound producer disposed centrall of the turntable and other d1- rectional pro ucers carried by the turntable about the central producer, a shaft extending axially from said turntable, a support rotatably mounting said shaft with the turntable disposed diagonally whereby sound waves emitted by the sound producers will be projected' upwardly at an incline and form a beam having a core and a jacketenveloping its core, and means for rotating said turn- I table. a

8. Aircraft signaling means comprisin a turntable, a directional sound producer isposed centrally of the turntable and other directional sound producers carried by the turntable about the central sound producer, a shaft extending axially from said turntable,

. a vertical support, a bearin carried by said support and rotatably receiving said shaft,

the bearing being dis osed at an incline whereby sound. waves rom said sound producers will be projected upwardly to form an inclined beam, and means for rotating said turntable.

9." An aircraft signal comprising a base, a standard rotatably supported upon said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a main shaft carried by the upper. portion of said standard and projecting forwardly therefrom, a motor carried by said standard with its shaft extending upwardly and downwardly below the main shaft, a turntable rotatable about said main shaft, means for transmitting rotary motion from the upper end of said motor shaft to said turntable, a directional sound producer disposed centrally of said turntable and other directional sound producers carried by the turntable about the central sound producer, and means for turning said standard to control the compass direction in which waves will be directed upwardly by the sound producers.

10. An aircraft signal comprising a base, a standard rotatably supported upon said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a main shaft carried by the upper portion of said standard and projecting forwardly therefrom, a motor carried by said standard with its shaft extending upwardly and downwardly below the main shaft, a turntable rotatable about said main shaft, means for transmitting rotary'motion from the upper end of said motor shaft to said turntable, a directional sound producer disposed centrally of said turntable and other directional sound producers carried by the turntable about the central sound producer, a stationary gear surrounding said base, a pinion loose upon the lower end of said under shaft and meshing with said gear, a clutch member carried by the lower portion of said motor shaft and normally held out of gripping engagement with said pinion; and means for moving said clutch into position to grip the pinion .to rotate the pinion about said gear and turn the standard to control the compass direction in which waves will be directed upwardly by the sound producers.

11. An aircraft signal comprising a base, a standard rotatably supported upon said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a main shaft carried by the upper portion of said standard and projecting forwardly therefrom, a motor carried by said standard with its shaft extending upwardly and downwardly below the main shaft, a turntable rotatable about said main shaft, means for transmitting rotary motion from the upper end of said motor shaftto said turntable, a directional sound producer disposed centrally of said turntable and other .directional sound producers carried by the turntable about the central sound producer, a stationary gear surrounding said base, a pinion loose upon the lower end of said under shaft and meshing with said gear, a clutch member carried by the lower portion of said motor shaft and normally held out of gripping engagement with said pinion, a solenoid carried by said motor and havin a core projecting downwardly, a fork extending from the lower 5 end of the solenoid core and engaged with said clutch to move the clutch into gripping engagement with said pinion when the soleno1d is energized, and means yieldably holding said clutch raised.

1 In testimony whereof we aflix our sign'a tures.

JOHN P. BUOKLEY. ARTHUR E. NESBITT. 

